VANOS gasket leaking

cooots · 08-24-2011, 05:16 AM

Hi guys,

I've been told that my VANOS gasket is leaking by the dealer (2006 Z4M Coupe).

They are going to charge me AU$1,000 (approx 600GBP) to fix. I was told that the whole VANOS unit has to be pulled off and then the engine has to be re-timed.

Does this sound right?

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks.

pokeybritches · 08-24-2011, 08:37 AM

I would give up a kidney before I would let a dealer touch anything related to my car's timing... especially in an area where S54 experts are spread thin. Search for "VANOS bolts" and "head gasket" to see what I'm talking about. I'm on my cell phone so I can't see what you drive, but check the E46 M3 forums if you haven't already (same engine, many more cars produced).

What made the dealer decide the VANOS seals needed to be replaced?

Shipkiller · 08-24-2011, 08:44 AM

No the vanos does NOT have to be retimed for just a gasket job. This fix should only take about an hour or so. Like what pokey says, go to M3Forum.net (http://www.m3forum.net/m3forum/forumdisplay.php?f=9), under E46 M3 and do a search. The seal/gasket repair is in several DIY.

thekurgan · 08-24-2011, 08:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shipkiller

No the vanos does NOT have to be retimed for just a gasket job. This fix should only take about an hour or so. Like what pokey says, go to M3Forum.net (http://www.m3forum.net/m3forum/forumdisplay.php?f=9), under E46 M3 and do a search. The seal/gasket repair is in several DIY.

+1, this is a simple fix. If you search on m3forum.net, there is a vendor attempting to make a deal with much longer lasting rubber for this plate, but it's not released as of yet, but it does look promising for this seal issue.

skim · 08-24-2011, 11:25 AM

stupid question, but how do you tell when VANOS is leaking? does it leak oil outside so you can notice it or is this an internal thing?

i love the S54, but it's pretty high maintenance compared to S65..

thekurgan · 08-24-2011, 12:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skim

stupid question, but how do you tell when VANOS is leaking? does it leak oil outside so you can notice it or is this an internal thing?

i love the S54, but it's pretty high maintenance compared to S65..

The seal will "weep" a bit ... it may be a bit more maintenance, but the S65 doe not have the valvetrain of the S54.

wrose · 08-24-2011, 05:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cooots

Hi guys,

I've been told that my VANOS gasket is leaking by the dealer (2006 Z4M Coupe).

They are going to charge me AU$1,000 (approx 600GBP) to fix. I was told that the whole VANOS unit has to be pulled off and then the engine has to be re-timed.

Does this sound right?

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks.

The Vanos can be removed without requiring re-timing. You may need a Valve cover gasket as well as a Vanos re-seal kit and a vanos gasket.
But first clean the area well and take the car for a spirited drive and re-check
the area (may need mirror to see the bottom ).
If you do have to remove the Vanos I found (tip from another member) that seperating the Vanos unit ( bottom solenoid section from the mechanical top portion) made it much easier to remove and install because there is very little clearance between the vanos unit and the front rad.support.
-I had mine off to replace the Exhaust Vanos Gear and Sprocket bolts.
Hope this helps

cooots · 08-25-2011, 03:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wrose

The Vanos can be removed without requiring re-timing. You may need a Valve cover gasket as well as a Vanos re-seal kit and a vanos gasket.
But first clean the area well and take the car for a spirited drive and re-check
the area (may need mirror to see the bottom ).
If you do have to remove the Vanos I found (tip from another member) that seperating the Vanos unit ( bottom solenoid section from the mechanical top portion) made it much easier to remove and install because there is very little clearance between the vanos unit and the front rad.support.
-I had mine off to replace the Exhaust Vanos Gear and Sprocket bolts.
Hope this helps

Thanks heaps for the help guys. Am going to go to a good independent specialist tomorrow for a second opinion.

wrose - I was going to get these bolts changed too. did you do this because your VANOS was noisy or just as preventative maintenance? what was the outcome?

wrose · 08-25-2011, 05:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cooots

Thanks heaps for the help guys. Am going to go to a good independent specialist tomorrow for a second opinion.

wrose - I was going to get these bolts changed too. did you do this because your VANOS was noisy or just as preventative maintenance? what was the outcome?

I did the bolts as preventive -were not updated bolts but were all tight
-I was lucky because i discovered the tab brioken on the exhaust vanos gear that would have caused a mess if th tab had fallen into the chain area.

cooots · 10-17-2011, 06:52 AM

Thought I'd give an update.

Took the car to a reputable independent BMW mechanic who showed me that my VANOS gasket wasn't leaking at all.

Lesson learnt- dealers are criminals in disguise. My car will not be going back to them.

Had the indy replace my cam (VANOS) bolts as preventative maintenance too. He told me that the bolts that were on there were not loose at all, but I feel it was still good to do just in case. He also gave me the old bolts and they show no signs of shearing.

08-24-2011, 05:16 AM	#1
cooots Enlisted Member 8 Rep 38 Posts Drives: Z4 M Coupe Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Australia iTrader: (0)	VANOS gasket leaking Hi guys, I've been told that my VANOS gasket is leaking by the dealer (2006 Z4M Coupe). They are going to charge me AU$1,000 (approx 600GBP) to fix. I was told that the whole VANOS unit has to be pulled off and then the engine has to be re-timed. Does this sound right? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.
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08-24-2011, 08:37 AM	#2
pokeybritches Colonel 479 Rep 2,782 Posts Drives: ESS/G-Power Z4M, VF Z4, 996tt Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Los Angeles iTrader: (12) Garage List 2006 BMW Z4M [10.00] 2006 BMW Z4M [8.50] 2003 BMW Z4 3.0i [9.00]	I would give up a kidney before I would let a dealer touch anything related to my car's timing... especially in an area where S54 experts are spread thin. Search for "VANOS bolts" and "head gasket" to see what I'm talking about. I'm on my cell phone so I can't see what you drive, but check the E46 M3 forums if you haven't already (same engine, many more cars produced). What made the dealer decide the VANOS seals needed to be replaced? __________________ VF Engineering Z4 3.0i, ESS Z4M, G-Power Z4M, 996 Turbo
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08-24-2011, 08:44 AM	#3
Shipkiller Colonel 187 Rep 2,138 Posts Drives: Me Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Virginia Beach iTrader: (3) Garage List 2008 BMW Z4M Coupe [8.50] 2003 BMW Z4 Roadster [8.33]	No the vanos does NOT have to be retimed for just a gasket job. This fix should only take about an hour or so. Like what pokey says, go to M3Forum.net (http://www.m3forum.net/m3forum/forumdisplay.php?f=9), under E46 M3 and do a search. The seal/gasket repair is in several DIY.
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08-24-2011, 11:25 AM	#5
skim Captain 142 Rep 660 Posts Drives: 07 Z4MC Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: SoCal iTrader: (0)	stupid question, but how do you tell when VANOS is leaking? does it leak oil outside so you can notice it or is this an internal thing? i love the S54, but it's pretty high maintenance compared to S65.. __________________ Future mod consideration: exhaust, pulley otherwise, very happy with how the m3 was born
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10-17-2011, 06:52 AM	#10
cooots Enlisted Member 8 Rep 38 Posts Drives: Z4 M Coupe Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Australia iTrader: (0)	Thought I'd give an update. Took the car to a reputable independent BMW mechanic who showed me that my VANOS gasket wasn't leaking at all. Lesson learnt- dealers are criminals in disguise. My car will not be going back to them. Had the indy replace my cam (VANOS) bolts as preventative maintenance too. He told me that the bolts that were on there were not loose at all, but I feel it was still good to do just in case. He also gave me the old bolts and they show no signs of shearing.
	Appreciate 0 Quote